Indian forces continued cordon-and-search operations across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir amid complaints by locals that such operations are being used to harass residents and suppress their political activities. According to Kashmir Media Service, personnel of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles of Indian Army and 92 Battalion of the CRPF arrested a youth, identified as Manzoor Ahmad, during a cordon-and-search operation in Handwara town of Kupwara district.

Indian police, while justifying the detention, claimed that the youth was functioning as a “hybrid militant” in the Handwara-Kupwara area. Indian forces have been conducting cordon-and-search operations and house raids in different areas of Srinagar, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Baramulla, Pulwama, Rajouri, Poonch, Kathua and other districts over the past several days. Residents told the media that such operations have made their lives difficult, saying that forces’ personnel enter residential houses and intimidate residents.

They added that several people have been arrested during these operations. Indian authorities again place Mirwaiz under house arrest in Srinagar Meanwhile, the Traffic Police, City Srinagar, issued a traffic advisory ahead of the oath-taking ceremony of Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati as Chief Justice of the High Court of occupied Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh. The ceremony is scheduled to be held today at the Shalimar Convention Centre in Srinagar. In another incident, at least four residential houses were completely gutted after a fire broke out in the Khan Mohalla area of Budgam district.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)